Novelty or entertainment device and associated method

ABSTRACT

A novelty or entertainment device includes a housing in the form of a sea shell. A sound reproduction system is mounted to the housing so as to remain hidden from casual visual inspection thereof. A switch is mounted to the housing and is operatively connected to the sound reproduction system for activating same in response to a lifting of the housing to an ear of a user.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to a novelty device. This invention also relatesto an associated method.

The entertainment industry is always in search of products which providea surprise to the user. Surprise is the essense of entertainment. Onekind of surprise arises when everyday articles exhibit an unexpectedcharacteristic or behave in a way which is contrary to their everydayfunction.

One particularly valued form of entertainment is humor. Juxtaposingthings, thoughts, perceptions, sensations which do not naturally occurtogether in the natural order of things frequently results in humorousentertainment.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the present invention to provide a novelty item.

Another object of the present invention is to provide such an item whichprovides a humorous entertainment adapted to different circumstances.

An additional object of the present invention is to provide a noveltyitem which appears to be a naturally occurring object but which, oncloser inspection, provides an unnatural sensory input to the user.

These and other objects of the present invention will be apparent fromthe drawings and descriptions herein. It is believed that eachembodiment of the invention attains one or more of the objects set forthherein.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A novelty or entertainment device comprises, in accordance with thepresent invention, a housing in the form of a sea shell, a soundreproduction system mounted to the housing so as to remain hidden fromcasual visual inspection of the housing, and a switch mounted to thehousing and operatively connected to the sound reproduction system foractivating same in response to a lifting of the housing to an ear of auser.

The sea shell may be a naturally occurring shell, such as a conch shell.Alternatively, the sea shell may be a manufactured replica of a seashell. In that case, the artificial shell is preferably appearssufficiently authentic to entice a person to lift the shell to his orher ear in order to listen for the sound of surf.

It is contemplated that the sound reproduction system includes a memoryfor storing at least one sound or series of sounds readilycomprehensible as something other than the expected ocean sounds. Theartificial sound or sounds generated by the sound reproduction systemupon a lifting of the shell to the ear may be a simulation of a naturalsound such as the roar of a lion, the song of a bird, the croaking of afrog, the buzzing of a bee, the rustle of leaves blowing in the wind,etc. Preferably, however, the sound is a recorded spoken message, suchas “Did you hear the one about . . . ,” “Friends, Romans, countrymen,lend me your ear,” “This is going to cost you,” “Get your ear out of myhouse,” “Hey, you, mind your own business,” “I bet you're a Peeping Tom,too,” “Our next tune is one that all of you love,” “Which number are youcalling, please?” “I'll bet you're all ears,” etc. Alternatively oradditionally, the prerecorded sound stored in the memory of the soundreproduction system may be a musical selection or a machine sound suchas the dial tone of a telephone, the roar of a motorcycle or lawn mower,the whistle of a train, the tolling of a bell, etc.

The memory of the sound reproduction system in a novelty item inaccordance with the present invention may store several different soundsequences which are reproduced in a predetermined or random sequence.Accordingly, successive placements of the shell to the ear of a userwill result in the reproduction of different sounds. The sound sequencesmay be different examples of the same kind of sound, for example, aseries of different jokes, different natural sounds, or differentmachine sounds. Alternatively, the multiple sound sequences in a memorymay be of different kinds, so that a first sound is a natural sound, asecond sound a machine sound, a third sound a musical passage, a fourthsound a voice message, etc.

The memory of the sound reproduction system may include a removablecartridge, enabling an exchange of the memory so that a new sound orseries of sounds may be produced on subsequent placements of the seashell next to a user's ear. Replaceable memory cartridges may haverespective seasonal themes. For example, a Halloween cartridge mightreproduce sounds such as a witch's cackle, a hyena's laugh, an owl'sscreech, a ghost's moan, a squeaking door hinge, etc. An IndependenceDay cartridge might reproduce patriotic sounds such as a nationalanthem, fireworks, historical speeches, etc. Alternatively, differentcartridges might correspond to a location in which the shell is to befound. For instance, a shell in a retail establishment might announcesales specials, while a shell in a museum might present facts ofinterest to the museum visitor.

The switch activating the shell's sound reproduction system may be agravity switch. In that case, a delay may be included in a circuit ofthe sound reproduction system so that the recorded sound is generatedonly after sufficient time has elapsed for the shell to be placed nextto the ear of the user after having been lifted from rest on a table ordesk.

Other kinds of switches or activation mechanisms may be used in place ofa gravity switch and a delay. For example, the switch or activationmechanism may be connected to a proximity detector which functions tosense nearness of a surface such as a person's head to a mouth oropening of the shell-shaped housing. A suitable proximity detectorincludes a piezoelectric crystal, an ultrasonic waveform generatorconnected thereto, a power source (battery), a piezoelectric sensormonitoring incoming ultrasonic pressure waves, and a logic unit (withtimer) connected to the sensor and to the generator or piezoelectriccrystal for monitoring returning signals in response to an ultrasonicwave packet or pulse produced by the crystal.

An ideal shell shape for the housing of the instant novelty item is aconch shell.

The sound reproduction system may include a solid-state memory, a powersource, and an electroacoustic transducer.

An associated novelty or entertainment method comprises, in accordancewith the present invention, providing a housing in the form of a seashell, and, in response to a removal of the housing from a stationarystorage position towards an ear of a user, reproducing a predeterminedsound so that the reproduced sound may be perceived by the user. Asdiscussed above, the stored sound may include a verbal message. In oneembodiment of the invention, the sound is automatically reproduced uponan automatic sensing of a movement of the housing.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view of a novelty item in accordancewith the present invention, in use.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of functional components of the novelty itemdepicted in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a modification or variation ofthe assembly of functional components shown in FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating another modification or variationof the assembly of functional components shown in FIG. 2.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram illustrating yet a further modification orvariation of the assembly of functional components shown in FIG. 2.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

As illustrated in FIG. 1, a novelty or entertainment device comprises ahousing 10 in the form of a sea shell particularly a conch shell.According to pervasive lore, placing a conch shell so that a mouthopening 12 thereof is justaposed to an ear E of a user U results in theuser having an aural sensation akin to the sound heard at the sea shoreor on the open seas. Consequently, it is not uncommon for a user U, uponespying a conch shell, to casually lift the conch shell to his or herear E. The novelty item disclosed herein recognizes that impulse andcapitalizes on it to provide a surprising sound to the user U upon theplacement of shell 12 next to the user's ear E.

As illustrated in FIG. 2, a sound reproduction system 14 is mounted tohousing or shell 10 so as to remain hidden from casual visual inspectionof the housing. Sound reproduction system 14 includes a solid-statememory 16 for storing at least one sound or at least one series ofsounds readily comprensible as something other than the expected oceansounds. Memory 16 is accessed by an address selector 18 which reads thecontents of a location or area of memory 16 and transfers thesound-encoding electrical signals to an amplifier 20. Address selector18 or amplifier 20 may be provided with a digital-to-analog converter(not shown) which transforms digital signals from memory 16 into ananalog signal. The amplitude of the analog signal is increased byamplifier 20 and fed to an electroacoustic transducer or speaker 22which produces aurally detectible acoustic pressure waves detectible inpart by the user U through the well-known functional components of theear E.

Address selector 18 is connected at an input to a condition detector 24which functions in part as a switch to activate the address selector.Various components of sound reproduction system 14, including addressselector 18 and amplifier 20, are connected to a power supply 26 such asa battery. Again, all of the components of sound reproduction system 14are mounted to and hidden inside shell 10.

Condition detector or switch 24 may be a gravity switch or motiondetector 28 (FIG. 3) which detects the condition of acceleration. Thus,when shell or housing 10 is lifted from a rest position, conditiondetector or switch 24 transmits an activation signal to address selector18 to induce the production of a sound. In that case, a delay circuit(not shown) may be included in gravity switch or motion detector 28 oraddress selector 18 so that the recorded sound is generated only aftersufficient time has elapsed for the shell 10 to be placed next to theear E of the user U.

In an alternative form, condition detector or switch 24 incorporates aproximity detector 30 (FIG. 4) for sensing nearness of a surface such asthe head H of user U to mouth opening 12 of the shell-shaped housing 10.Proximity detector 30 may be of the ultrasonic type and include apiezoelectric crystal, either a dedicated element (not shown) ortransducer 22. The proximity detector may further include an ultrasonicwaveform generator connected to the piezoelectric crystal. The functionof this ultrasonic waveform generator may be performed by memory 16,address selector 18, and amplifier 20. Alternatively, a dedicated unit(not illustrated) may be provided. The proximity sensor additionallyincludes an acoustoelectric sensor (such as transducer 22), which iscapable of monitoring incoming ultrasonic pressure waves, and a logicunit (with timer) connected to the sensor and to the generator orpiezoelectric crystal for monitoring returning signals in response to anultrasonic wave packet or pulse produced by the crystal.

As another alternative, condition sensor or switch 24 may incorporate aninfrared sensor 32 (FIG. 5) for detecting the temperature of a bodyplaced next to mouth opening 12.

The artificial sound or sounds stored in digitally encoded form inmemory 16 and generated by sound reproduction system 14 upon a liftingof the shell to the ear may be a simulation of a natural sound such asthe roar of a lion, the song of a bird, the croaking of a frog, thebuzzing of a bee, the rustle of leaves blowing in the wind, etc.Preferably, however, the sound is a recorded spoken message, such as“Did you hear the one about . . . ,” “Friends, Romans, countrymen, lendme your ear,” “This is going to cost you,” “Get your ear out of myhouse,” “Hey, you, mind your own business,” “I bet you're a Peeping Tom,too,” “Our next tune is one that all of you love,” “Which number are youcalling, please?” etc. Alternatively or additionally, the prerecordedsound stored in memory 16 of sound reproduction system 14 may be amusical selection or a machine sound such as the dial tone of atelephone, the roar of a motorcycle or lawn mower, the whistle of atrain, the tolling of a bell, etc.

Memory 16 may store several encoded signals corresponding to respectivesounds. The encoded sounds are accessed by address selector 18 in apredetermined sequence or, alternatively, a random sequence. In thisway, consecutively positioning shell 10 at the ear E of user U willresult in the hearing of different sounds by user U. The sound sequencesmay be different examples of the same kind of sound, for example, aseries of different jokes, different natural sounds, or differentmachine sounds. Alternatively, the multiple sound sequences in memory 16may be of different kinds, so that a first sound is a natural sound, asecond sound a machine sound, a third sound a musical passage, a fourthsound a voice message, etc.

Memory 16 may be implemented in part as a removable cartridge, enablingan exchange of memory 16 so that a new sound or series of sounds may beproduced on subsequent placements of the sea shell next to a user's ear.Replaceable memory cartridges may have respective seasonal themes. Forexample, a Halloween cartridge might reproduce sounds such as a witch'scackle, a hyena's laugh, an owl's screech, a ghost's moan, a squeakingdoor hinge, etc. An Independence Day cartridge might reproduce patrioticsounds such as a national anthem, fireworks, historical speeches, etc.Alternatively, different cartridges might correspond to a location inwhich the shell is to be found. For instance, a shell in a retailestablishment might announce sales specials, while a shell in a museummight present facts of interest to the museum visitor.

Although the invention has been described in terms of particularembodiments and applications, one of ordinary skill in the art, in lightof this teaching, can generate additional embodiments and modificationswithout departing from the spirit of or exceeding the scope of theclaimed invention. Accordingly, it is to be understood that the drawingsand descriptions herein are proffered by way of example to facilitatecomprehension of the invention and should not be construed to limit thescope thereof.

1. A novelty or entertainment device comprising: a housing in the formof a sea shell; a sound reproduction system mounted to said housing soas to remain hidden from casual visual inspection of said housing; and aswitch mounted to said housing and operatively connected to said soundreproduction system for activating same after and only after a liftingof said housing.
 2. The device defined in claim 1 wherein said switch isa gravity switch.
 3. The device defined in claim 1 wherein said switchis connected to a proximity detector for sensing nearness of a surfaceto a mouth of said housing.
 4. The device defined in claim 1 whereinsaid sea shell is in the form of a conch shell.
 5. The device defined inclaim 1 wherein said sound reproduction system includes a solid-statememory, a power source, and an electroacoustic transducer.
 6. The devicedefined in claim 1 wherein said sound reproduction system includes amemory storing a plurality of different sound bites and means foraccessing different ones of said sound bites on successive activationsof said sound reproduction system by said switch.
 7. A novelty orentertainment method comprising: providing a housing in the form of asea shell; and in response to a removal of said housing from astationary storage position towards an ear of a user, reproducing apredetermined sound so that the reproduced sound may be perceived by theuser upon and only upon an approximation of a mouth of said housing tothe ear of the user.
 8. The method defined in claim 7 wherein the soundincludes a verbal message.
 9. The method defined in claim 7, furthercomprising automatically sensing a movement of said housing, thereproducing of said sound being induced upon the sensing of saidmovement.
 10. A novelty or entertainment device comprising: a housing inthe form of a sea shell; a sound reproduction system mounted to saidhousing so as to remain hidden from casual visual inspection of saidhousing; and a switch mounted to said housing and operatively connectedto said sound reproduction system for activating same in response to alifting of said housing, said switch including means for selectivelyactivating said sound reproduction system only after said housing hasbeen placed proximate to a surface.
 11. The device defined in claim 10wherein said switch includes a gravity switch.
 12. The device defined inclaim 10 wherein said switch is connected to a proximity detector forsensing nearness of said surface to a mouth of said housing.
 13. Anovelty or entertainment device comprising: a housing in the form of asea shell; a sound reproduction system mounted to said housing so as toremain hidden from casual visual inspection of said housing; and aswitch mounted to said housing and operatively connected to said soundreproduction system for activating same in response to a lifting of saidhousing, said sound reproduction system including a memory storing aplurality of different sound bites and means for accessing differentones of said sound bites on successive activations of said soundreproduction system by said switch.
 14. A novelty or entertainmentmethod comprising: providing a housing in the form of a sea shell; andafter and only after a removal of said housing from a stationary storageposition, reproducing a predetermined sound so that the reproduced soundmay be perceived by the user.
 15. The method defined in claim 14 whereinthe sound includes a verbal message.
 16. The method defined in claim 14,further comprising automatically sensing a movement of said housing, thereproducing of said sound being induced upon the sensing of saidmovement.
 17. A novelty or entertainment method comprising: providing ahousing in the form of a sea shell; in response to a first removal ofsaid housing from a stationary storage position, reproducing a firstpredetermined sound so that the reproduced sound may be perceived by theuser; and in response to a second removal of said housing from astationary storage position, reproducing a second predetermined sound sothat the reproduced second predetermined sound may be perceived by theuser, said second predetermined sound being substantially different fromsaid first predetermined sound.
 18. A novelty or entertainment devicecomprising: a housing in the form of a sea shell; a sound reproductionsystem mounted to said housing so as to remain hidden from casual visualinspection of said housing, said sound reproduction system including amemory storing a signal corresponding to a predetermined soundsubstantially different from sound generated in nature upon placement ofa sea shell next to an ear; and a switch mounted to said housing andoperatively connected to said sound reproduction system for activatingsame in response, at least in part, to a lifting of said housing.